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Asclepias curassavica
Asclepias curassavicaL., Asclepiadaceae, is a native of south America, grown in India in the gardens and now naturalised in many places. The leaves and the attractive flowers are illustrated.
The plant is toxic and is used in phthisis.
The root is an emetic, cathartic, purgative and a remedy in piles and gonorrhoea.
The latex is used to remove warts and corns.
The juice of the leaves is anthelminthic, antidysenteric, sudorific and arrests haemorrhages. Also used in gonorrhoea and cancer.
The plant is used as a fish poison.
The plant contains the glucosides asclepiadin and vincetoxin. Asclepiadin is a potent cardioactive substance. Vincetoxin is similar in action to emetin and aconitine. The roots contain curassavicin and calotroposide that are considered as cardiotonic. Polyphenols in the leaves are cytotoxic.